Shredder

Abstract

A shredder includes a cutting unit frame and a cutting shaft rotatably supported in the cutting unit frame and carrying a multiplicity of cutting disks, rotatable with the cutting shaft for shredding an item in cooperation with a further tool. The cutting unit frame has two opposing side parts extending parallel to the cutting shaft and two fronting parts extending transversely to the side parts and the cutting shaft. Each fronting part has upper and lower fronting part elements attached to one another and extending between and separately attached to the side parts and internally capturing one of two bearings therebetween such that the bearings rotatably mount the cutting shaft in the cutting unit frame and are removable with the cutting shaft upon removal of only the upper fronting part elements from the cutting unit frame without bringing the cutting unit frame out of adjustment.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A shredder, comprising: 
       (a) at least one cutting shaft having a pair of opposite ends;  
       (b) a multiplicity of cutting disks supported by and rotatable with said at least one cutting shaft for shredding an item in cooperation with a further tool; and  
       (c) a cutting unit frame having two opposing side parts and two fronting parts, each of said two side parts spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another and to said at least one shaft and terminating in a pair of oppositely facing front sides, each of said fronting parts spaced apart and extending transversely to said opposing side parts and said at least one shaft and between said opposing side parts and crossing said opposite ends of said shaft such that said two fronting parts and two opposing side parts together surround said cutting disks supported on said at least one shaft, each of said fronting parts having upper and lower fronting part elements detachably attached to one another and separately of one another being attached at opposite ends of said upper and lower fronting part elements to said opposing side parts at said oppositely facing front sides thereof such that said cutting unit frame is thereby assembled in a fixed condition surrounding said cutting disks, at least said upper fronting part elements of said fronting parts being detachably attached at said opposite ends thereof to said opposing side parts; and  
       (d) a pair of annular bearings each disposed over and extending about one of said opposite ends of said at least one shaft and being captured between said upper and lower fronting part elements of one of said fronting parts such that bearings are disposed and supported internally of said cutting unit frame and, in turn, rotatably support said opposite ends of said at least one shaft in said fronting parts of said cutting unit frame and are removable with said at least one shaft from said cutting unit frame upon detaching only said upper fronting part elements of said fronting parts from said opposing side parts and from said lower fronting part elements of said fronting parts without detaching said lower fronting part elements of said fronting parts from said opposing side parts of said cutting unit frame and thereby without placing said cutting unit frame out of said fixed condition.  
     
     
       2. Shredder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower fronting part elements of said fronting parts are yoke plates having semicircular cutouts receiving said bearings. 
     
     
       3. Shredder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said upper fronting part element of each of said fronting parts is detachably bolted to adjoining side parts. 
     
     
       4. Shredder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lower fronting part element of each of said fronting parts is detachably bolted to said adjoining side parts. 
     
     
       5. Shredder as a recited in  claim 1  wherein said upper fronting part element of each of said fronting parts is detachably bolted to said lower fronting part element thereof. 
     
     
       6. Shredder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bearings of said at least one cutting shaft are fixed between said upper and lower fronting part elements of said fronting parts by a clamping therebetween. 
     
     
       7. Shredder as recited in  claim 1  wherein on said fronting part elements of each of said fronting parts on sides of said fronting parts facing toward said cutting disks on said at least one cutting shaft are attached wear protection plates each having a base plate and a hard steel contact plate disposed in front of said base plate.